Gene “Bever” Borne, EAA 155256, of Reserve, Louisiana, whose involvement and dedication to flight safety mirrors nearly the entire history of the ultralight movement, will be inducted into the EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame on November 10 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Borne is one of five individuals to be honored that evening with various EAA halls of fame inductions.
Borne’s involvement with ultralights started in 1976, just as the ultralight movement was emerging, with a foot-launched, motorized Quicksilver hang glider. After acquiring most of the U.S. Hang Gliding Association pilot and instructor ratings, he became an instructor and eventually developed a solo training system. In the early 1980s, Borne was active in the formation of the FAA’s Part 103 ultralight regulations, which celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2022. Some 20 years later, he also participated in the creation of the FAA’s sport pilot/light-sport aircraft regulations.
Borne has logged more than 5,000 hours as an instructor in ultralight-type aircraft and is also a current general aviation pilot rated for single-engine land and sea operations. He remains active on numerous aviation boards and committees promoting aviation safety and ultralight sport preservation, and serves as an FAA designated airworthiness representative.
Borne and his wife, Kim, along with their son Kenneth operate Air-Tech Inc., an ultralight/lightplane manufacturing company dedicated to supporting ultralight aviation. It is the only licensed entity to produce the Quicksilver aircraft product in the United States. Air-Tech is located on the Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport (KAPS) in Reserve, Louisiana.